What was the worst moment in franchise history?

Top 3 on the field:
1. 2nd half of the 1957 Championship game against the Lions
2. NFC Championship game against the Redskins after the '83 season when the refs jobbed the Niners out of the Super Bowl with phantom pass interference calls against Wright and Lott.
3. NFC Championship game against the Giants after the '90 season when Roger Craig fumbled inside 2 minutes when the Niners had the lead and only had to run out the clock to be in their third straight Super Bowl.

Honorable mention: Three straight losses to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game from '70 - '72. Conference championship losses to the Cowboys in the '90s. Fatboy Jimmy Johnson: "We will win the the game".

Originally posted by PRIMUS151:
Eddie D giving up the team and Montana getting injured against the Giants.

After Montana was injured (broken finger) Steve Young came in and completed a 3rd down pass for a 1st down with a couple of minutes to play. All they had to do was run out the clock and they were in the Super Bowl. But Steve handed off to Roger Craig and one of the Giants linemen had penetrated the blocking and hit him just as he got the hand-off. Craig fumbled and that was it.

Yeah that would have to be the 2nd worst. The worst for me was being in the end zone at Kezar on Jan. 3rd, 1971 the last 9er game ever played at Kezar and the first time the niners ever made it to the NFC Championship game. I was a teenage punk and a HUGE John Brodie fan. My brother and I sat there and watched as the niners went down to the cowboys 17-10. Is it any wonder I can't stand Roger Staubach? Like they say, the first cut is the deepest.

Originally posted by Memphis9er:
Yeah some folks I guess choose not to remember that it was his own fault that he got into hot water. I blame him for being involved with shady s**t, he is the single most responsible person that the team went to crap. I like the guy and really appreciate what he did for the team through the years, but he let us fans down by forcing himself out of the game.

Agreed. Owning an NFL team with 5 SB victories wasn't enough for the guy. He decides to become a "riverboat gambler". He's the reason he had to relinquish control of the team. Copied from wiki so take it for what it's worth.

DeBartolo was involved in the corruption case of former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards. He pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to report a felony, and received a $1 million fine and two years of probation in return for his testimony against Edwards. Edwards was on trial for extortion and other charges, among which were the $400,000 he demanded from DeBartolo to gain a river boat casino license. DeBartolo never received the license, was fined by the NFL, and barred from active control of the 49ers for one year. That legal battle led to another, and as part of a settlement, DeBartolo gave up control of the 49ers in 2000, ceding control of the team to his sister Marie Denise DeBartolo York. York had previously been the president of the DeBartolo family-owned Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1991 he arranged to sell the NHL franchise to assist the DeBartolo Corporation in the aftermath of the real estate collapse of 1987. Many shopping malls were sold to the Simon Property Group in 1996, which operated for a few years as the Simon DeBartolo Group.

Originally posted by PRIMUS151:
Eddie D giving up the team and Montana getting injured against the Giants.

After Montana was injured (broken finger) Steve Young came in and completed a 3rd down pass for a 1st down with a couple of minutes to play. All they had to do was run out the clock and they were in the Super Bowl. But Steve handed off to Roger Craig and one of the Giants linemen had penetrated the blocking and hit him just as he got the hand-off. Craig fumbled and that was it.

I still blame Bubba Paris and his "Kwame Harrislike" blocking skills for allowing Montana to get injured in that game. It was no secret he was out of shape and overweight that season and was out of football 2 or 3 years later. Even if Craig had not fumbled and we'd won that game, who's to say we would have three-peated with Young. At that point in his career, Young didn't handle pressure very well and Montana would not have been able to play in the SB because of his injury. The Giants ended up barely beating the Bills in the SB that year on a field goal as time was expiring. Here's the video of Montana getting hammered at 00:38. Watch fat boy Bubba Paris #77.

Originally posted by dbdublin:
Top 3 on the field:
1. 2nd half of the 1957 Championship game against the Lions
2. NFC Championship game against the Redskins after the '83 season when the refs jobbed the Niners out of the Super Bowl with phantom pass interference calls against Wright and Lott.
3. NFC Championship game against the Giants after the '90 season when Roger Craig fumbled inside 2 minutes when the Niners had the lead and only had to run out the clock to be in their third straight Super Bowl.

Honorable mention: Three straight losses to the Cowboys in the NFC championship game from '70 - '72. Conference championship losses to the Cowboys in the '90s. Fatboy Jimmy Johnson: "We will win the the game".

This fan site is dedicated to the 49ers and their fans. It is in no way affiliated with the NFL or any of its teams. All teams and players mentioned on this site are registered trademarks of the NFL. The use of any team names, words, trademarks, logos or photos have been used for descriptive purposes only. The content and information from other sites is the property of their respective owners. Player and team photos used with permission from USA TODAY Sports Images.